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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff
and wire service
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Ex-chief's home raided in criminal inquiry
The case of embattled former Kauai Police Chief K.C. Lum took another strange twist Thursday when investigators from the state attorney general's office served a search warrant on Lum's home in connection with a criminal investigation, Lum's attorney Clayton Ikei said.
Investigators seized three computer hard drives in connection with an investigation into alleged tampering with government documents, a misdemeanor, Ikei said.
Ikei said he believes the investigation is focused on a three-page letter of termination that was sent to Lum and then sent by Lum to the Kauai Police Commission.
Ikei added that he believes if the document was altered, it was a mistake by his law office. He said the letter was mailed to his office on May 31. His office worker scanned it and e-mailed it to Lum, accidentally cutting two paragraphs off the letter, Ikei said.
Lum retired on June 2, after receiving the letter.
Ikei said the investigation is based on politics. Lum is running for a seat on the Kauai County Council.
"Clearly, they want to smear K.C. Lum," Ikei said.
Army adds another charge against Watada
FORT LEWIS, Wash. » The Army has added another allegation of conduct unbecoming an officer to the charges pending against Lt. Ehren Watada, though the base commander still has not made a decision on whether the case will proceed to a court-martial.
Watada, 28, of Honolulu, refused to deploy on June 22 with his Fort Lewis-based unit because he believes the Iraq war is illegal. He was accused of missing troop movement, conduct unbecoming an officer and contempt toward officials, including using "contemptuous words" against President Bush in media interviews.
The new charge is based on Watada's remarks to the national convention of Veterans for Peace, held in Seattle on Aug. 12-14, Army spokesman Joe Piek said yesterday.
Conviction on all charges could bring a maximum of seven years in prison, Piek said.
The Fort Lewis commander, Lt. Gen. James Dubik, will decide whether the case proceeds to court-martial, Piek said.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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WEST OAHU
22-year-old charged with sexual assault
Frankie Thornton, 22, was charged yesterday with first-degree sexual assault and third-degree physical assault after he allegedly entered the shed of a homeless woman in Waipahu, sexually assaulted her and then punched her friend.
Thornton entered the 42-year-old woman's shed off Farrington Highway and attacked her at 2:18 p.m. Wednesday, according to a police affidavit.
A 46-year-old woman heard the other woman's screams and entered the shed, where she saw the man sexually assaulting the woman, the affidavit said. The woman said she was assaulted by the man after trying to help the woman.
Bail was set at $40,000.
Accused thief's pocket contains stolen phone
A 20-year-old man was arrested in Waipahu on Thursday after allegedly entering an ex-girlfriend's room through the window and stealing her cell phone.
The girlfriend's mother, 47, and her new boyfriend, 18, told police they told the older man, who had stopped by the residence, to leave. They thought he left, but later found the window in the daughter's bedroom opened and her cell phone missing.
Police said they responded to the call and were told by the younger man that the ex-boyfriend had threatened him earlier.
Police went to the 20-year-old man's residence and arrested him on suspicion of second-degree terroristic threatening and first-degree burglary. During the arrest, police found the girl's cell phone in his pocket.
LEEWARD OAHU
Makaha condo fire under control quickly
Firefighters brought a Makaha condominium fire under control within minutes Thursday morning.
The fire was reported at 8:31 a.m. Thursday at a one-bedroom condominium at the Makaha Valley Towers at 87-740 Kili Drive, Apartment 1311. About 20 fire personnel responded, bringing the fire under control in three to four minutes.
Damage from flames was primarily in the living room, with smoke damage throughout the apartment.
The two residents who live at the apartment were not home at the time. Neighbors called 911 and reported the fire.
Damage was estimated at $50,000 to the building and $10,000 to its contents, Tejada said.
The cause of the fire was an electrical short in an extension cord, Tejada said.
The American Red Cross assisted a man who was displaced by the fire with financial help for his immediate emergency needs of food and shelter. Caseworkers will provide families with emotional support and referrals to help for the next few weeks.
WAIKIKI
Theft by pocketknife leads to man's arrest
Police charged a 25-year-old man yesterday with first-degree robbery and kidnapping for allegedly robbing a man in Waikiki with a folding pocketknife.
A 26-year-old man reported to police that on Aug. 29 the younger man dragged him into a stairwell at 2211 Ala Wai Blvd. and robbed him. The two men appeared to know each other, police said.
Police arrested Ake Fowler earlier this week, and he was charged at about noon yesterday. Bail was set at $50,000.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Police look for suspects in pair of hit-and-runs
Kona police are looking for the drivers of vehicles in two separate hit-and-run traffic accidents.
On Aug. 27 at about 5:55 p.m., a 16-year-old girl had gotten out of a pickup truck on the shoulder of Keola O Keawe Road to get an item from the bed of the truck when she was hit by a sedan.
The car was described as a light-brown Dodge Neon with five-spoke chrome wheels and rims, a back trunk spoiler and tinted windows, police said.
Witnesses described the driver as a man with a tan complexion.
The victim was taken to Kona Community Hospital, transferred to the Queen's Medical Center and later released in satisfactory condition.
Last Wednesday at 7:40 p.m., an unknown vehicle heading north struck and injured a 51-year-old woman walking on the shoulder of Mamalahoa Highway.
The woman was taken to Kona Community Hospital for treatment.
Police are asking for help from anyone who witnessed Wednesday's crash or anyone who can identify the driver of the Dodge Neon.
Anyone with information is asked to call Kona police at 326-4646, ext. 253, or the police nonemergency number at 935-3311. Anonymous calls may be made to CrimeStoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo.
